Question

OSHA's HazCom Standard requires SDSs to be readily available to all employees. Describe three different ways that this requirement can be met, and discuss which option you believe is the best for your current organization, or an organization with which you are familiar. Your response should be at least 200 words in length.

Answer 1

There are many ways that an employer can ensure that the SDS’s are readily available to all employees. Here are three different ways that can be accomplished:

• The employer can maintain hard copies of the SDS in binders. This is typically done in smaller companies that don’t have a large quantity of chemicals.
• Another method is through electronic storage. This works well for companies that have a large quantity of chemicals.
• For mobile employees, it could be something as simple as an app for their cell phones. This is one method that I also utilize to ensure that employees have the option of retrieving the SDS regardless of their locale.

I believe that the best option for my organization is a combination of the electronic storage method and the use of the mobile application. We currently use a system that provides web based access for our employees; the office personnel all have the ability to access this information directly through an icon located on their desktop computers while the employees can gain access through computer terminals located in various locations, including cafeterias and break rooms. Further, in the event of a power outage, we have 1-800 numbers that the employees can call if they must have the information immediately. These numbers are posted throughout the facility. The mobile app allows employees to gain access to our SDS’s with a unique password. This website and password is also posted throughout our facility. At this point in time, this appears to be the most successful method to ensure that our employees have the ability to access our SDS database whenever the need arises.